The Perception of Type 1 Diabetes versus Type 2 Diabetes

The Perception of Type 1 Diabetes versus Type 2 Diabetes

It is essentially the same disease in how it affects a person’s body but they are completelydifferent in how they develop. In most news and media reports, diabetes is linked withobesity and it is claimed that if more people lost weight or became more active thenumber of people diagnosed would drop.

These reports can be upsetting to a diabetic with type 1 diabetes, it doesn’t matter whatthere body type is, was, or will be they will always have the disease. There may be someanimosity from type 1 diabetics towards type 2 diabetics but this would be misplaced –the media is creating this by not telling the full story.

Yes, type 2 diabetes is intertwined with lifestyle choices and being overweight. This isan epidemic that can be avoided. But not all people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes areconsidered obese or to be living an unhealthy lifestyle.

Another problem with the misconception about type 1 diabetics is that they make up avery small amount of the people diagnosed with the disease (approximately 10% of alldiabetics are type 1). They are not getting as much attention in the news and reportsbecause it is not a growing concern like type 2 diabetes.

It is hard to be diabetic and read the news as it paints type 2 diabetics as people whoshould just lose weight and they wouldn’t have a problem. But it should be noted thatthere are many people who are overweight and obese who do not have diabetes and theopposite is true too – people who maintain a healthy body weight are being diagnosedwith type 2 diabetes.

It is important to remember that not all the information is being provided and that thereare many reasons and people who get this disease and they should not be judged becauseof it.